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Books

This page features carefully selected books that will appear in the Morningside library for the 2017-2018 year.To get them there, go to the Contact/ Donations section to contribute/ buy a book for the library! You can indicate which book(s) in the "Write a Note (Optional)" section.

PURCHASEDAstronaut Mae Jemison by Allison LassieurThis female science and technology innovator will tie in well with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum objectives. The inspiring profile touches on childhood, education, and the subjects' breakthrough accomplishments.-Horn Book Guide (Spring 2017)$8.99

PURCHASED​Benjamin Banneker by Isabel Martin​"Simple text and photographs present the life of Benjamin Banneker, a free African-American astronomer, author, and inventor of the 1700s"-Publisher$16.54

PURCHASED​The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Springby Lucille CliftonTwo skeptical city boys set out to find spring, which they've heard is "just around the corner."$11.36

PURCHASEDDancing Divaby Whoopi GoldbergHeadstrong nine-year-old Epatha likes to inject her own unique style into choreography, but when she does so with a solo part for the Harlem Ballet, she learns a valuable lesson about modesty. A spirited narrator, vivid Harlem setting, and plenty of ballet terminology add interest; effervescent black-and-white spot art accompanies each chapter. -Horn Book Guide (Spring 2013)$10.08

PURCHASED​Frederick Douglass by Barbara KramerDiscover the world of one of America's most celebrated abolitionists, writers, and orators in this inspirational biography of Frederick Douglass. Kids will learn about his life, achievements, and the challenges he faced along the way. -Publisher$3.44

PURCHASED​Freedom School, Yes!by Amy LittlesugarPeople in Jolie's small town of Chicken Creek are not happy about the African-American children attending the new Freedom School. Despite this and other obstacles, the Freedom School opens, and Jolie learns to be brave in her quest for learning. Soft and detailed illustrations help tell this story of endurance and strength of the human spirit. -Library Talk​​$14.49

PURCHASED​George Washington Carver by Kitson JazynkaThis biography for emerging readers provides a chronological account of Carver's life, from his birth into slavery to his contributions to agriculture, science, and education. The narrative cursorily touches on obstacles faced by African Americans at the turn of the last century. -Horn Book Guide (Spring 2017)$13.90

PURCHASED​Good Night, Commanderby Ahmad Akbarpur​In the war between Iran and Iraq, a little boy loses his leg--and also his mother. Once safe, his only way to make sense of the tragedy is to re-create the war in his bedroom with a toy gun and imaginary soldiers. This time however, he is in control; he is the Commander. But when he finally meets his enemy face to face, he finds a young boy, similar to him. Readers learn a universal truth--enemies are never as different as one would imagine. -Kirkus Reviews $15.41

PURCHASEDHidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly In this debut, Shetterly shines a much-needed light on the bright, talented, and wholly underappreciated geniuses of the institution that would become NASA. Called upon during the labor shortage of World War II, these women were asked to serve their country and put their previously overlooked skills to work-all while being segregated from their white coworkers. -Library Journal (September 1, 2016)$21.06

PURCHASEDMichelle Obama an American Story by David ColbertOf the recent biographies for youth about Michelle Obama, this title delves into the greatest depth on the subject of the First Lady’s family roots, reaching back to stories of her ancestors who toiled as slaves on a rice plantation in South Carolina. These historical chapters might feel tangential to readers seeking fast facts, but they add welcome context to Obama’s inspiring story. -Booklist$11.76

PURCHASEDInside Out and Back Againby Thanhha LaiRecounting events that resemble her own family's 1975 flight from Saigon, Lai pens a novel in vividly imagined verse. In Alabama, Ha is daunted by challenges including mastering idiosyncratic English. Many people are cruelly antagonistic, but Ha soon finds allies at school. Spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee's complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties.-Horn Book Guide starred$13.76

PURCHASED​Julian, Secret Agent by Ann Cameron"A stepping stone book." When Julian, his little brother Huey, and their friend Gloria decide to be "crime busters," they find themselves in one adventure after another.$10.56

PURCHASED​Kami and the Yaksby Andrea Stenn StryerKami, a young deaf Sherpa boy, lives with his family in Nepal. Kami's father and brother work as guides to mountain climbers. Their yaks are very important to the family, so one morning when the yaks are missing, everyone is very concerned. Kami goes looking for them. When he finds the young yak with its leg caught in a crevice, he makes his way back home through a dangerous storm and finds a way to communicate the problem to his brother and father. -Library Media Connection$12.00

PURCHASEDMaya Lin: artist and architectby Cecilia H BrannonWhen Maya Lin's design for the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial was chosen in 1981 over more than a thousand other designs, it was a highly controversial decision. But Lin, a young Chinese American, believed in herself and her work, and she not only saw her design come to fruition, but she went on to create numerous other buildings, sculptures, and memorials around the country. -Publisher$17.00

PURCHASED​My Brother Sammy is Special by Becky EdwardsSammy does not go to school with his older brother--Sammy has to go to school on a special bus. The brothers cannot play in the park together--Sammy lies under the tree and watches the leaves. Sammy's brother is angry because Sammy is autistic and does not know how to be a "normal" brother. Then, one day, Sammy's older brother realizes that he should not demand everything on his own terms and that Sammy's way of doing things may not be so bad after all; this book realistically portrays being a sibling of an autistic child. -Publisher$14.46

PURCHASED​Nat Turner and Slave Life on a Southern Plantation by Katie SchmidThe story of Nat Turner and the slave rebellion he led are brought to life in this book. Drawn in by the graphical format, even reluctant readers will be interested in learning about history. Also includes an introduction, biographical sketches of main characters, and a timeline. -Publisher$19.74

PURCHASED​Phillis Wheatley by Emily R SmithA brief look at the life and times of Phillis Wheatley, who is bought as a slave by a wealthy Boston family, is taught to read and write, and becomes colonial America's first African-American poet. -Follet $13.36

PURCHASED​The Skirtby Gary SotoIn this cheery snapshot of a Mexican-American family in California, Miata attempts to retrieve from her school bus the folklorico skirt she left behind. There is just enough suspense in the spare storyline to hold the attention of readers new to chapter books.-Horn Book Guide ​​$11.36

PURCHASED​Sojourner Truthby Heather Moore NiverSojourner Truth is best known for her famous speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851 in which she asked, Ain't I a woman? Born into slavery in 1797, she escaped to freedom with her baby daughter by 1826. But freedom held hardships for Truth, too. Despite all odds, this extraordinary woman fought for rights for both blacks and women as well as other disenfranchised populations. This in-depth account of the fascinating life of the abolitionist is a must-read in any social studies collection. -Publisher$20.00

PURCHASED​Surfer of the Century: the life of Duke Kahanamokuby Ellie Crowe"In school Duke struggled with his lessons, but in the ocean he was a star." Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (b. 1890), father of modern surfing, who dropped out of high school and battled racism, politics and financial difficulties on his course to becoming a gold- and silver-medal-winning Olympic swimmer, knew a thing or two about making adjustments and living with aloha (love, peace and compassion). -​Kirkus Reviews$17.11

PURCHASEDWhose Toes are Those?by Jabari AsimOn each spread, viewers get a glimpse of the youngster in question. On the final spread, the book takes a vertical twist to show the whole, laughing child. The stories are sweet and simple, and children will enjoy bending knees or wiggling toes along with the protagonists. The illustrations were sketched in graphite and painted digitally; they are warm and lively with swirls of color and friendly animals looking on. The text refers to knees "so brown and so strong" and toes "so brown and sweet." These titles will add welcome diversity to board-book collections.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK$5.99​

PURCHASED​Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Gareth StevensA fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless adventure story in the classic tradition of The Wizard of Oz.- Goodreads​$14.46

PURCHASEDAunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold​Cassie Louise Lightfoot, the resourceful heroine from Tar Beach (Crown), flies again. As she and her brother, Be Be, fly among the stars, they spot an old train onto which Be Be jumps. Then Harriet Tubman arrives, taking Cassie back more than one hundred years to guide her up the route to freedom in Canada, where she is reunited with Be Be. Ringgold pieces together a beautifully illustrated dream sequence based on Tubman's actual dream of flying to freedom.-Horn Book Guide $13.06

PURCHASED​My Black Me edited by Arnold AdoffYoung and old, the voices of African-American poets speak in tones ranging from joy to anger to melancholy. Although the focus is on being African American, many of the concerns expressed are applicable to a wider group of ethnic minorities.-Horn Book Guide$4.54

PURCHASED​Just Like Josh Gibson by Angela Johnson When Grandmama was young, she could hit, run, and catch just like her idol, Negro League baseball player Josh Gibson, but she wasn't allowed to play on the boys' team. With thoughtful, understated text, Johnson captures a little girl's eventual triumph while inviting readers to consider the cost of exclusion based on race or gender. The atmospheric pastel illustrations bring the 1940s to life.-Horn Book Guide$13.06